Flipper game



Nov. 21, 1961 Filed July 25, 1960 A. E. GQLDFARF.;

FLIPPER GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet l ADOLPH ,GOLDFA RB IN VEN TOR.

0.1,., Af v A T TORI/EK Nov. 2l, 1961 A. E. GoLDFARB FLIPPER GAME 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1960 ADOLPH E'. GOLD/54H3,

IN V EN TOR.

BY (l, ,s u' 1A 1 TTORNEK United States Patent 3,009,701 FLIPPER GAMEAdolph E. Goldfarb, 7245 Atoll St., North Hollywood, Calif. Filed July25, 1960, Ser. No. 45,039 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-96) This invention relatesto a unique and original toy which is a flipper game taking the form ofa simulated lfrying pan or skillet and a composition disc associatedtherewith whereby the disc can be flipped in the air and caught like apancake or flapjack.

Although the terms frying pan, skillet, pancake and flapjack are usedherein to describe a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to beunderstood that these terms are merely suggestive and not used in alimiting sense.

While the toy does in fact simulate the actual flipping of pancakes orflapjacks, it has been found to be an extraordinarily entertaining toyhaving the additional feature, that it is one calling for physicalactivity on the part of the child or player. 4It is to be understoodfurther that the toy has further and broader implications beyond theactual simulation of pancakes and frying pans or skillets. Preferably,the part which may be said to simulate a pancake is a disc and the partby which the disc is flipped is referred to as a flipper. This isparticularly true since a Wide variety of different types of flippersmay be used such as, for example, in the game of jai alai, tennis,handball, -anti-over and numerous other similar games. The toy in actualdemonstrations of it has shown that not only is it highly fascinatingand entertaining but it offers opportunity for the development of aconsiderable degree of skill and manual dexterity in flipping thesimulated pancake or flapjack and catching it in the simulated fryingpan or skillet.

The toy actually provides a game and it may be utilized with a singlesimulated pancake or disc and two flippers or conversely with a singleflipper and one or more discs.

In a preferred form of the invention, as disclosed herein, the flippertakes the form of a simulated frying pan which is preferably maderelatively small and of light Weight, of inexpensive and easilyfabricated materials such as plastic.

The disc simulating a pancake, in the preferred embodiment, similarlymay be made of composition such as plastic, for example, a rubbery orelastomeric material such as vinyl plastic. The disc actually has ratherparticular characteristics whereby the desired results are achieved. Thedisc has a desired quality of resiliency and one might say limitedrigidity, whereby the desired effects are secured. Actually', in apreferred form of the invention, the disc is given certain aerodynamicproperties whereby self-inducing spinning or slipping action of the discoccurs in the air. That is, preferably the disc is slightly dished so asto be convex on one side and concave on the other side. Preferably, alsothe simulated pancake, that is the disc, has a small peripheral bead atthe edge thereof extending from the convex side of the disc. It has beenfound that this particular conformation of the simulated pancake tendsto stabilize it in the air and to improve the qualities of the toy inrespect to the flipping of the disc and catching it in or on theflipper.

The flipper particularly, when in the form `of a frying pan, has a holein it to prevent any possibility of a vacuum existing between the discand the bottom of the pan so that the disc would be air locked on theflipper and not readily flipped.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a unique, original andhighly fascinating and entertaining HCC toy in the form of a flipper asdescribed and a disc adapted to be flipped from the flipper and caughttherein.

Another object is to provide a toy as in the foregoing which isextremely simple, and capable of being easily fabricated frominexpensive materials.

Another object is to provide a toy as in the foregoing wherein the discis in the form of a simulated pancake of composition material and theflipper is in the form of a simulated frying pan.

Another object is to provide a disc as in the foregoing in the toy asdescribed wherein the disc is of composition material which is slightlydished so as to be convex on one side and concave on the other side.

A further object is to provide a toy as in the previous object embodyingmeans to prevent an air lock or vacuum between the flipper and disc.

Further objects and numerous advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings,wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the toy of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 with the disc in theopposite position; u

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 of a slightly modified form ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the flipping motion of the disc;

FIG. 6 is a plan View of a modified form of disc;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of flipper; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIGS. l to 3 show a representative preferred embodiment of theinvention. In these figures, numeral 10 designates a toy including aflipper in the form of a simulated frying pan or skillet having a bottom11 and an outwardly tapering peripheral wall 13 which is shown as havingsimulated pouring conformations or spouts as shown at 15 and 16. Itshould be understood, however, that these conformations may be omitted.The sides of the pan or flipper have a generally rounded configurationat the point where they are joined to the bottom. The flipper has ahandle as shown at 17 which hasan opening extending through it.

In the bottom of the pan is a round hole or aperture Z1 having thepurpose of preventing a Vacuum between the bottom of the pan and thedisc, that is, the prevention of an `air lock occurring. This hole oraperture of course need not necessarily be round but may have othershapes. Also, the flipper may be of a construction resembling a tennisracket, for example or the like, having a reticular network held withina frame so that a plurality of openings or holes are provided preventingthe formation of a vacuum between the flipper and disc, that is,preventing the occurrence of :an air lock interfering with the flippingof the disc from the flipper. Furthermore, the flipper might be flat buthaving a number of grooves in it so as to permit the air to escape frombetween the disc and the bottom of the flipper such as might possiblyoccur upon the landing of the disc on the flipper with the concave sidedown.

The simulated frying pan, that is the flipper may b made from anysuitable material, more preferably a material such as a light,inexpensive plastic which is easily formed and fabricated. Theconfiguration of the frying pan is such that it may be very easilyproduced using very simple fabrication techniques.

In combination with the flipper, there is provided a simulated pancakewhich is the disc 23. This disc is slightly dished as may be seen inFIG. 2 so that it is convex on one side and concave on the other.Preferably also around the periphery of the disc, it has a small bead asshown at 24 which extends from the concave side of the disc. The discmay be made from a suitable composition such as a flexible plastic orother suitable material. It is to be understood, however, that it isalso possible and within the scope of the invention that the disc bemade from a rigid or relatively rigid material. Actually, the disc ismade of a material having the required conformation and characteristicsto give it certain aerodynamic qualities in flight when flipped and theproper qualities with reference to its being caught in the flipper. Ifthe disc is relatively rigid, it may tend to bounce out of the flipperunless the flipper is made of corresponding yieldable material which isof course possible. If the disc is too rigid, it has been found that itclatters in or around the flipper and is too easily dislodged.Preferably, the disc is made just sufficiently rigid as to avoid beingdrapable, i.e., just sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting orsubstantially so and so that there is but slight sag if the disc ispermitted to rest either on its convex or concave side on a flatsurface. On the other hand, if the disc is sufciently drapable ornon-rigid to lose its substantial and desired concave or convexconformation in cross-section, its qualities of aerodynamic stabilityand particularly its ability to spin are impaired. It should beunderstood that the particular dished disc-like conformation gives thedevice the proper aerodynamic qualities of stability and spin while inflight. In order to realize these particular qualities in the disc, itis preferable that it be made of a rubber or elastomeric material, forexample vinyl plastic. Normally the disc will rotate about a diameter inflight. It has sufficient rigidity to have this characteristic. FIG.shows a single disc being flipped back and forth between two separateflippers.

In practicing the invention, the disc is held on the flipper and tossedor flipped therefrom in a manner simulating that in which an actualflapjack may be flipped from a frying pan or skillet. However, both theflipper and the disc possess certain qualities not present in anordinary frying pan or a flapjack and the operation has certainsignificantly distinct characteristics. The object and entertainingfeature of the game is of course that the disc may be tossed to lesseror greater heights with the player endeavoring to catch it squarely onthe flipper and flip it again. Such manipulations of course require somedegree of skill and it has been found to be extremely entertaining andfascinating to flip or toss the disc in the manner described. It hasbeen found further that the toy offers rather surprising opportunitiesfor the development of skill in flipping and catching the disc. Theholes or otherwise as described above in the surface of the flipperprevent the air lock between the two especially when the disc is caughtin the flipper after having been tossed in the air but also tofacilitate the release of one from the other even when the disc ismerely lying in the flipper. The disc may be lifted and tossed by theedge of the simulated frying pan and the disc is sufliciently rigid sothat it cannot drape over the edge of the pan, that is, it cannotconform readily thereto. If it did so conform to the edge of the pan, itwould have poor air foil properties and would not flip in the air.

FIG. 4 shows a modified form of the invention having a hole 25 in thedisc rather than there being a hole in the flipper.

The game described herein may be played as a game of catch between oneor more individuals or even in the manner of volley ball or tennis whereone team plays against another or in any manner tosses back and forthbetween a number of individuals, one or more at a time and in one ormore directions at a time, that is, with one being thrown in onedirection but preferably always in a manner to cause flipping as inducedby the natural aerodynamic nature of the concave-convex shape of thedisc.

The disc may take a form as shown at 27 in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein theperipheral bead 24 has peripheral notches as shown at 28. The disc has aconcave-convex shape as in FIGS. 2 and 3 and is otherwise similar inconstruction. The notches 28 prevent the formation of a vacuum or airlock when the disc lands concave side down on the flipper. Additionally,the disc may have beads on the convex side as shown by way of example at30 as being of spaced arcuate conformation and circularly arrangedaround the central axis of the disc. These beads prevent any possibilityof there being a vacuum or air lock between the disc and flipper whenthe disc lands on the flipper with its convex side down. It is possiblethat the central portion of the disc in contact with the flipper mayflatten slightly so the beads 30 effectively serve their purpose ofpreventing a vacuum at that area.

The flipper itself as described in the foregoing may be a flat paddle orthe flipper itself may be dish-shaped with or without the edge turned uprelatively sharply in a manner of a frying pan. In other words, it ispossible without the lip to flip the flipper and spin the disc about adiametrical axis. This can be demonstrated by using the back of aflipper as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. It is possible that the flipper itselfmay be concave on one side and flat on the other generally requiringmore skill to catch at least on the flat side.

The flipper may take the form as shown at 33 in FIGS. S and 9. This formsimulates a frying pan but has beads or ribs on the inside bottomsurface having a conformation as indicated for example at 34. Thesebeads or ribs prevent the occurrence of a vacuum or air lock between theflipper and the disc.

The game may be enlarged upon by the player having a flipper in eachhand and tossing the simulated pancake, that is the disc, from one andendeavoring to catch it in the other. Another variation is the flippingof one or more simulated pancakes from a single flipper somewhat in themanner that a juggler juggles one or more balls or objectssimultaneously. These variations of course require more skill and offerenlarged opportunities for the development of skill and arecorrespondingly additionally entertaining.

What is claimed is:

A flipper toy comprising a paddle-like member having a relatively flatsurface, and a disc-like member of semirigid material having a dishedconformation to give it aerodynamic stability in flight and a smoothperipheral bead at its outer edge, said disc-like member being of lessdiameter than the flat portion of said paddle-like member, and means foradmitting air to any space between said paddle-like member and saiddisc-like member to prevent production of a vacuum between said memberswhereby said disc may be repeatedly flipped over in the air by saidpaddle-like member and then caught thereon.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,292,011 Monroe Ian. 21, 1919 2,886,320 Hennik May 12, 1959 2,912,246Hayward Nov. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 647,232 Germany June 30, 1937

